The UNO men’s basketball team returns to the road this week and a quick glance at the opponents shows the Privateers appear to have a good chance to pick up their first Southland Conference road victory Thursday. Houston Baptist (4-14, 1-5 in conference play), who the Privateers will meet Thursday, is struggling, having lost nine of its last 10 games.

You’d expect UNO coach Mark Slessinger to say the Huskies are far better than their record indicates. But what has him troubled, he said, is watching game film from Houston Baptist’s 98-97 victory against Northwestern State from Jan. 11.

It was the Huskies’ only league victory and it came against a team that competed in the NCAA Tournament last year.

“They were up 16 (against Northwestern) with 15 to play in the second half,’’ Slessinger said. “Then Northwestern got hot and made it a game. They lost at the buzzer to McNeese (70-68 last Saturday) and Nicholls (66-64) beat them on a buzzer. After getting blown out their first three (conference games), they’ve played well the last three.’’

Statistically, the Huskies don’t appear good offensively. They are 314th in the nation in scoring, averaging but 65.2 points per game. They’re good on only 42 percent of their shots from the field and average 16.7 turnovers per game.

But the Huskies own a bit of a psychological advantage over the Privateers because they beat UNO twice last season, 75-68 in overtime at UNO and 65-52 in Houston.

Most of the key parts of last year’s squad are back with the addition of SMU transfer Ricmonds Vilde, a 6-foot-11 center and fifth-year senior.

“It’s (Houston Baptist) a tough place to play, small gym,’’ Slessinger said. “They’re very good at home. We need to try to get this first road conference. Felt like we should have had a split on first conference road swing of the season.’’

TEXAS A&M-CC HOT: The second of the two road games appears to be the tougher one for UNO. The Privateers will travel to face Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday and the Islanders are one of the surprise teams in the Southland.

Texas A&M-CC is 8-11 overall but 5-1 in league play and tied for second place with Sam Houston State. Its only loss was to league leader Stephen F. Austin.

The Islanders have won five or their last six. The non-conference schedule was fairly rugged with losses to Oklahoma, Texas, Houston and Iowa State.

What the Islanders have done well since the start of league play is shoot. They lead the league in conference games in field goal percentage at 51 percent and make 41 percent of their 3-pointers.

GILL BACK: After missing last week’s two home games against Lamar and Sam Houston State with a concussion, freshman guard Christavious Gill will return Thursday against Houston Baptist.

Gill suffered the injury against Incarnate Word on Jan. 11.

The news isn’t as good on junior forward Teris Bourgeois, who remains on the shelf because of a heel injury. Slessinger said he doesn’t have a timetable on Bourgeois’ return.

McPhearson scored 16 points apiece in the two games and was 9 of 21 from the field with five assists.

Hill, who was inserted into the starting lineup against Lamar, came up big, too, scoring 27 points and pulling down 20 rebounds in the two games and was 12 of 15 from the field. He had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Privateers’ 77-55 victory against Lamar.

And Harrison may be emerging as the perimeter threat the Privateers need. He scored 20 points in last week’s two games, was 7 of 12 from the field and 6 of 10 from 3-point range.

“(Tradarrius) has really come along and he’s in a good stretch,’’ Slessinger said. “Kevin has come on in the last two weeks. Harrison has come on of late and is starting to figure it out. They’re all getting better which the part I’m most excited about.’’